After the pandemic closures, Rousmery Negrón and her 11-year-old son noticed that their school in Springfield, Mass. seemed less welcoming. Parents were no longer allowed in the building without appointments, punishments were harsher, and the overall atmosphere was less tolerant and angrier. Negrón’s son even overheard a teacher mocking his learning disabilities. This made him not want to go to school anymore, and Negrón didn’t feel he was safe there. As a result, he ended up missing more than five months of sixth grade. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case. Across the country, students have been absent at record rates since schools reopened. More than a quarter of students missed at least 10% of the 2021-22 school year, making them chronically absent. Before the pandemic, only 15% of students missed that much school. This data, compiled by Stanford University education professor Thomas Dee in partnership with The Associated Press, provides a comprehensive picture of absenteeism nationwide. Absences were more common among Latino, Black, and low-income students. The impact of these absences goes beyond missed instruction; students also miss out on meals, counseling, and socialization. Chronically absent students, who miss 18 or more days a year, are at a higher risk of learning difficulties and dropping out. The consequences of disengaging from school are devastating, and the pandemic has worsened the situation for many students. The rate of chronically absent children doubled in seven states for the 2021-22 school year compared to before the pandemic. Absences increased in every state with available data, regardless of COVID rates. There are many reasons why kids are staying home, including financial issues, housing instability, illness, transportation problems, school staffing shortages, anxiety, depression, bullying, and feeling unwelcome at school. Online learning has also affected school relationships, and many parents and students no longer see the importance of regular attendance. Chronic absenteeism has presented new challenges for educators and experts. Students who already felt unseen or lacked a caring adult at school now feel even more disconnected. The problem is particularly acute among Alaska Native students, who face poverty, a lack of mental health services, and a school calendar that doesn’t align with their traditional hunting and fishing activities. In New York, a student with autism lost motivation to attend school after moving to a new neighborhood and losing the relationships he had built. Another student missed over 90 days of school because the school nurse was on medical leave and no substitute could be found. These absences have lasting effects, including a decline in motivation and academic performance. The pandemic has also conditioned some parents and students to stay home at the slightest sign of sickness. This has led to an increase in chronic absenteeism even after the worst of the pandemic. The long-term consequences of chronic absenteeism are concerning, as students miss out on crucial educational opportunities. Although data for the most recent school year hasn’t been released for most states, early indications suggest that chronic absenteeism rates remain high. In Massachusetts and Connecticut, chronic absenteeism remained double its pre-pandemic rate. In Negrón’s hometown of Springfield, 39% of students were chronically absent last school year. Negrón tried to support her son’s learning while he was out of school, but he struggled because he didn’t have access to the necessary materials. She filed a complaint asking for compensatory services and funding for her son to attend a private special education school, but the district denied her request. As the new school year approaches, Negrón is filled with dread, as her son doesn’t want to return to school. She hopes that the district will grant her request for him to study in a mainstream classroom with a personal aide. However, she wishes she had another option, such as homeschooling, but fears the isolation her sons would experience. Despite the challenges, educators and experts are working to address chronic absenteeism and provide support to students who have been affected by it.
Attendance Slumps Across the US: Countless Children Miss Weeks of School
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